Border Patrol Agents Rescue Missing Horse In Imperial Beach

IMPERIAL BEACH, CA — A horse that had been reported missing since May was rescued last week by U.S. Border Patrol agents in San Diego County, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday.

Agents assigned to the Imperial Beach Station found the missing horse named "Ollie" July 15 in the Tijuana River Valley area of San Diego.

Members of the Imperial Beach Station's All-Terrain Vehicle Unit were tracking a group of people who crossed the border illegally when they discovered a horse tangled in thick brush in the Tijuana River Estuary in Imperial Beach, according to CBP agent Jeff Stephenson. A K-9 team and horse patrol agents joined the ATV team to clear a path to access the trapped horse, which appeared to be weak and in distress.

"Once freed, agents checked the horse for visible injuries and noticed that he had markings matching Ollie, a local horse that had gone missing two months prior," Stephenson said.

Agents loaded Ollie into a trailer and returned him to his owners, who had reported the horse missing in May.

"I am proud of our agents' work in recovering Ollie," CBP chief patrol agent Aaron M. Heitke said. "As public servants, Border Patrol agents regularly go above and beyond serving their community in many different ways."